Carbondale’s school year begins in new building Highschool_8/17_n/s_city

Carbondale Community High School students began classes Friday with new clothes, new books and a new building.

A half-day of classes marked the beginning of the school year, easing students from summer vacation to school days as well as orienting them to their new surroundings.

Advertisement

At the east side of the building, near the main entrance, Dr. John Dively, the CCHS principal, sipped his coffee in one hand and directed lost students with another. During the four-minute passing period, everyone seemed to be pointing, laughing and asking, “Do you know where you’re going?”

“This is the biggest year for the high school,” Dively said. “The last year a

new high school was built (in Carbondale) was in 1969, and before that, 1923.”

Dively said they were fortunate to be able to move to the new location over the summer. The faculty began moving their things last May after the last day of the school year.

One feature of the school that Dively is most impressed with is that everything is on one property. The CCHS is located on the northeast side of the

Superblock, on the corner of Walnut Street and Giant City Road.

The Superblock is a 150-acre facility that encompasses the new middle school, high school and recreation center for sports and athletics. The recreational field includes nine baseball diamonds, 13 soccer fields, two tracks and a football stadium.

Advertisement*

Inside the high school building is a multitude of colors, shapes and angles. The hallways are open and flooded with natural light. Windows are everywhere. The architectural features are visible and include exposed vents and suspension cables highlighting the ceiling. The floor is covered with artful multi-colored tiles that flow from shade to shade, making beautiful designs in a chaotic fashion.

Rachel Lewis and Lauren Uffelman, both sophomores at CCHS, walked through the hallways looking a bit lost. They had on new clothes and simultaneously pulled class schedules and school maps from their purses. With the new school comes new rules, the girls said:no eating in class, a closed campus and also a farther commute for the girls who live on the far west side of the city.

“It’s way further,” Lewis said.

As for their first day of school, Uffelman said it is fun and exciting.

Plus, you can get away with being late to classes.

The high school has a new closed campus policy that has put an end to outside lunches. Gone are the days of going to Burger King and Schnuck’s for lunch. Now, students must remain on the school property. The cafeteria’s food

selection has been expanded to keep students happy, said Dively. Hunan, Papa

John’s and Subway will cater some lunches in addition to school food.

Students will have an option between eating lunch in the 600-seat cafeteria or in the outside courtyard.

The students were excited about the new building even though they were not thrilled about the beginning of the school year. Brandon Rogers, a senior, was most impressed with the theater department and the abundance of new

“It feels great to be here,” Rogers said. “The school is unbelievable.”

The school has eight computer labs and computer connections in every room. Dively said that the old high school could not properly support the technological demands. Now, they have a facility that can support the academic program.

Another technological advancement has been made in the school’s security. Besides hall monitors, the school is equipped with 32 digital cameras to monitor activity in and around the school to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary.

“It’s a great day for Carbondale and for the Carbondale Community High School,” Dively said. “We will take responsibility to take care of the facility that has been given to us.”

Reporter Nicole Sack can be reached at [email protected]